News in Brief August 4 – Rolling Stone, Starwood and More

Rolling Stone Accused of Selling Readers’ Data

Rolling Stone magazine publisher Wenner Media has been hit with a putative class action claiming that it sold readers’ personal information to third parties. According to the complaint, the publisher was willing to sell its customers’ names, subscription history and addresses to anyone who was willing to pay for the information. The lawsuit claims that Wenner Media violated Michigan’s Video Rental Privacy Act and is looking to certify a group of magazine subscribers in Michigan – with the hope of netting an award of $5,000 per class member.

Starwood Settles Hotel Worker Wage Claims

Starwood Hotels and Sheraton Operating Co. have agreed to pay $850,000 to settle wage and hour claims brought by their workers. The lawsuit claimed that employees working at W Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles weren’t being adequately compensated for all hours worked. Under the settlement, close to 440 housekeepers and bellhops stand to collect nearly $1,090 in allegedly unpaid wages.

FMCSA Issues E-Cigarette Fire Hazard Warning

On Wednesday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a warning to commercial drivers, saying that using or charging e-cigarettes near hazardous materials could be a bad idea. According to the report, electronic cigarettes have the potential to explode or catch things on fire. Because of that, commercial drivers have been asked to follow normal smoking prohibitions when it comes to transporting potentially dangerous materials.

Work Out World Escapes Unsolicited Call Lawsuit

A proposed class action claiming that Work Out World violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by leaving prerecorded voicemails was dismissed on Monday. Judge Peter G. Sheridan found that a single automated phone call (those who received the calls reported only one) is merely a procedural error that doesn’t cause any harm to the recipients.